India’s Rice Exports to Rise as Iran Relaxes Import Curbs

05-Aug-2025 08:59 PM

New Delhi. The Indian Rice Exporters Federation (Iref) has said that the reduction of the ban on imports by a major importing country of Indian rice will not only increase rice exports from India but will also help in reducing the impact of the new tariff imposed by the US.

The Federation Chairman said that the ban on rice imports in an important importing country for four months has been imposed, which has now been decided to be lifted.

This is important because it is a leading buyer of Indian rice (especially Basmati) where more than 1 million tonnes of rice is imported annually. After the removal of control there, Indian exporters will get a good opportunity to increase their activity.

Although the Iranian government has not yet made an official announcement, but media reports have said that Iran has decided to reduce the ban on rice imports that has been in place for four months with the aim of increasing supply and availability in the domestic market and controlling the rise in prices.

It is noteworthy that Indian Basmati rice is very popular in Iran. India is the world's largest exporter of rice and its share in the global export market is 45 percent. India has a huge stock of exportable rice and the price is also at a competitive level.

If the government's policy remains favorable, India's contribution in global rice exports can increase to 55 percent in the coming time, which will be a great achievement.

Iran is traditionally a leading buyer of Indian Basmati rice. When the harvesting of the new crop of paddy begins there, the import of rice from foreign countries is stopped for four months so that the farmers can get a fair price for their produce.